Adjustable cover for boxes.



L. H. FRANK.

' ADJUSTABLE COVER FOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6.1919.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD HERMAN FRANK, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 LEO m REBAYLIO, OF NEVJARK, NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE covnn FOR iaoxns.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

- Application filed February 6, 1919. Serial No. 275,415.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEOPOLD HnRMAn FRANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at 22 S. Arlington Ave, East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Covers for Boxes, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to adjustable hinged covers for boxes, and has for its object the production of a combination of parts of special construction and arrangement, whereby the lid or cover when raised or lowered may be left in any position whatever without furtherattention. In other 'WOIdS, the box cover after being raised to any extent from its closed posit1on w1l1 remain where left until it is again moved. Ordinarily, if one hand is used to raise the cover of a box, the

other hand must be used to make some adjustment to hold the cover in position, or else the cover must b opened to a predetermined extent and until it reaches a catch or some similar devices which hold it in one particular position. It is often desirable to leave but a slight opening between the top of the box or other receptacle and its cover or lid, thereby allowing a restricted volume of air to enter or humidity to escape as in drying chambers or the like; or to control the amount and character of issuing sounds as in the case of phonograph cabinets; or to govern the emission of. light from lamp boxes, and it is frequently desired to change such openings at will with as little trouble as may be practicable.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction 'and arrangement of the parts of this invention, and Figure 1 of the drawings represents a perspective'view of the interior of a box to which'this invention has Fig. 4 is an inside view of one corner of a box with this invention applied, showing one form of spring to balance the lid. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of lid spring. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another. form of spring to act upon the cover or lid.

Throughout the drawings and description the same letteris used to refer to the same plate and friction plates are provided for each of the two rear inner corners of the box at the topof the box.

- The friction plates are secured to the side of the box by screws E, and an additional screw e, which may be termed a pressure screw, passes through the outer friction plate D, through the curved slot 6 in the sector plate B, and into the underlying friction plate d. In other words, the sector plate B, provided with th curving slot 6 moves between the two friction plates D and d, and the screw 6 is so placed that when the lid of the box is lowered the slot 6, one end of which is open as illustrated in Fig. 3, takes in the screw 6, which does not, therefore, interfere with the movement of the plate B. It is believed to be. clear that if the screw 6 is set up, the leather friction lining sheets F and f, with which the inner surfaces of the friction plates D and d are usually less strongl against the sector plate B. The pressure pf the screw .6 is opposed only by the integral spring connection 0 between the two friction plates D and d, and located at the upper inner corner of the plates as best shown in Fig. 2. This invention is not intended to be limited to the particular con: struction of spring connection between the friction plates set out in the drawings. The function of the spring connection is t provided in'yractice, will be pressed more or arate the plates and relieve the friction pressure on the sector plate, when the screw 3 is loosened or unscrewed.

As set out in Fig. 3, the sector plate is usually formed with a lip G that contacts with a pin stop 9, and prevents the cover of the box from being inadvertently thrown so high as to disengage the sector plate and friction plates.

Considering Fig. 4:, which may be regarded as illustrating a box H having a lid it of the same structure as already described, and also the sector plate J on the cover and the friction plates j on the box as before. In this figure a pivot rod K connects the sector plates at both rear corners of the box,

and the coil spring is, having one end L bearing upon the cover, and the other end Z lying against the back of the box, encircles the rod and operates to balance the weight of the lid in any position. It will now be understood that, if the weight of the cover is relieved either in whole or in part, there need be less friction to hold the lid in place at any point.

In Fig. 5 spring. the cover is provided with the sector plate N and friction plates a. The pivot rod 0 carries a modified twisted spring P, having one end bearing against the inside of the cover, and the other end resting against the inside of the box M.

In Fig. 6 a still further modification of the lid or cover spring is illustrated. The box Q, has the cover R, with the sector plate S and friction plates T, all as before explained. The pivot rod U in'this modificathe hollow of a grooved spring there is shown a modified lid tion lies in plate V. This plate has one edge secured to the edge of the box, and the other edge to the edge of the cover R as shown.

The operation of this invention set forth in all the different figures of the drawings is the same. The friction plates are pressed against the sector plates sufficiently to hold the cover against its weight, or against its weight as balanced by the springs described, in any position to which it has been raised, and it is not necessary to engage or to disenga e any securing or catching devices to suita ly adjust the cover. It is believed to be clear from the foregoing that while a light cover may demand but a light or no cover spring, it is very convenient and useful to have a relatively heavy cover so balanced.

The box M has the cover m, and

Having now described this invention. and explained the mode of its-operation, what I claim is 1. In an adjustable box cover, the combination with a. box and lid therefor, of a sec tor plate attached to the said lid and movable therewith, friction plates secured to the box and arranged to receive the said sector plate between them, the said ector plate and the said friction plates having a pivotal joint connecting them and forming the hinge or pivotal support of the said lid, and means for varying the pressure of the friction plates upon the said sector plate.

2. In an adjustable box cover, the combination with a box and lid therefor, of a sector plate'attached to the said lid, a pair of friction plates arranged parallel to each other and secured to the box, the said friction plates being also arranged to receive the sector plate between them, the said friction plates having an integral spring connection between them, the said spring connection tending to separate the plates, and means for varying the pressure of the friction plates upon the said sector plate.

3. In an adjustable box cover, the combi- 1 nation with a box and lid therefor, of a sector plate attached to the said lid, a pair of friction plates arranged parallel to each other and secured to the box, the said friction plates being also arranged to receive the sectorplate between them, the said friction plates having a spring connection between them located at one corner of the said plates, and means for varying the pressure of the friction plates upon the sector plate.

4. In an adjustable box cover, the combination with a box and lid therefor, of a sector plate attached to the said lid, a pair of friction plates other and secured to the box, the said friction plates being also arranged to receive the sector plate between them, the said friction plates having .a spring connection one with the other constructed to press them apart, means for varying the pressure of the friction plates upon the said sector plate, the said friction plates having a pivotal joint connecting them and forming the hinge or pivotal support of the lid, a pivot rod passing through the said joint at each rear corner of the box, and a spring arranged to exert an opening pressure upon the 11d.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.-

LEOPOLD HERMAN FRANK.

arranged parallel to each 

